New additions to the Cuckavalda Gang

Our #FridayFavourites making them #SaturdaySpecials as these are the ones we are building back up our Cuckavalda Gang .Heeling up already with Minty in charge Youngest cockers are 7 weeks old . We were very touched that when we lost the 13 dogs in the accident that people, some we didnt even know got in touch and offered to give us a pup from their litter .It was just not one person but many .People were so kind and we feel so humbled by this and will never forget it.As much as we were truly grateful for their offers, we needed to keep our own blood lines which made us who we are today. So Peg and Molly the cocker spaniels have given us Lucy,Blue and Twig .You will see 3 black Labradors too These were not actually bred by us but we bought them from the lady who bought a Cuckavalda Labrador from us 3 years ago and had just mated her with one of our stud dogs the week beofre the accident happened. We were keen to jave some as Guy is the grandfather, he was one who died. So as we started with 3 fox red Labrador pups many years ago we now start 20 years later with 3 - Well it was going to be 2 but Anna came home with an extra one as it seemed only right as a nod to the orginal 3. 2 have collars on as trust us 3 black Labradors are very hard to tell apart. So here we have Chloe- who we didnt name.. and Sky and Abbey. You will also see Minty out with them and Lucy too. We have to look to the future.

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Good Golly, Miss Molly

Good Golly Miss Molly .. not just #FridayFavourite but Anna's whole time favourite . Molly is the granddaughter of our original Molly. She is also Minty's mum . Last week she went to Grace Lane Vets in Kirkbymoorside to be spayed as she won't be having any more puppies. We have kept Lucy to continue the line and hopefully when she is old enough we will keep one of her pups which will be called Molly. The vet,unfortunately,found a lump and so she had to have that removed at the same time,making it a double operation. She was very sleepy for the rest of the day, but next morning she was up and about and hunting around in the grass to see what she could find. She has the most amazing nose and if there is anything to be found ...including food , she will find it . Molly is now up and about and just being Molly... Everyone needs a Molly in their life. We dont know what Minty will think when she comes to live in the house as Minty has prime position at the moment and is totally spoilt. People comment on how skinny Minty is, but she gallops about most of the day. Jack and Minty have a routine and she can tell the time even though she doesnt have a watch. She is up at before 4am and goes out for the last lap round the field about 8pm but she does have naps co-inciding with Jack's naps too. Although for the last couple of days they have been watching Ascot on the television.

We have a litter of cocker spaniels and have a couple looking for new homes

When life is full of puppies and daisies. AND for all you Minty lovers . Champagne coloured one who is the same colour as Minty are looking for loving permanent postcodes. While Duchess the cat is watching over them. These are the last litter to be born that Troy sired . He mated Molly in the morning and died in the afternoon in the storm . Duchess the cat is sat on guard and keeps them in order. .

Sunday afternoon

There is something about relaxing on a Sunday afternoon and it is no different for the dogs.When they are working they have the day off and just like us look forward or not to what lies ahead. But when you see how keen to jump into Jacks pickup you can only think they cant wait to get going . Sunday espcially on a day like today when the sun is shining and the grass is lush ,the birds are singing and all is right with the world. They all do their own thing .You will see how the cockers are up there jumping on to Jacks knee time and time again .Minty likes to play fight with anyone who will give her the time of day and see how she bobs under the Labradors on more than one occasion. Finn sits up the hill side watching his family enjoying the sunshine and letting the others get on with it .A little grey "round the gills" now but he is out there and knows the routine ... playtime,"Beck time" when they get for a drink and a splash about in the stream .-Jack dammed it up a long time ago and it certainly freshens them up, then it is home time. He is usually the last one out of the field and the first one into his kennel.For some reason that Anna doesn't know Tilly always makes a bee-line to her for that extra pat and as they move off she returns to make sure she too is following the pack. So now the dogs are fed,watered and settled down for the night. Again they all have their own pattern as while washing up their bowls and having a sweep up you look through the window and see some dogs are ready for bed and gone into their kennels .Others sit out to get the last rays of the sun.... nodding off. Another day over. Tomorrow is another day .

Tragically and more..... Kindnesses from people we didn't even know

You may well remember seeing a post we put up on Facebook back in the middle of February and since then life has been little more than a blur. This is what it said "It is with a heavy heart, we would like you to know . Cuckavalda Gundogs have had a tragic accident around 4pm yesterday . A tree blow down taking a powerline of 11k vol with it which fell on the kennel block which electrified the runs. Unfortunately 13 dogs lost their lives. A full investigation is underway by Northern Power Grid . [That is what they said on the day] Jack ,Anna and Tom would like to thank everyone who have shown their concern and given help. And to Grace Lane Vets for coming out . At this time there is so much to do and things to sort so we ask that you do not telephone . This photo was taken only last week and very few of the black Labradors are still with us . There will not be a #FridayFavourite this week as we remember Cockers Troy Olive Labradors Guy, Goldie, Port, Dill, Dora, Rick, Cora, Polly, Tilly, Ivy and Rose RIP you beautiful creatures - all taken far too young - Aged between 7 months and 6 years" We are now into April and only last week on the 8th Friday did Northern Powergrid send 15 men out to fell 19 trees which had been looked at in Jan 2021.Then it had been deemed too dangerous to take down without having the power disconnected. Had this been done earlier we would still have had our beautiful dogs. Another factor was that the trip did not trip off. This meant that the wire was still live and endangering the dogs who were still living. Jack was very heroic, and himself very lucky he did not die along with the dogs. He got a pitch fork which had metal tines and stabbed them into a 5 litre container, the sort you get car wash fluid in. He then lifted the live cable, which was still carrying 11k volts, above his head for over 30 minutes until Anna went down the village and brought Kevin the elctrician back. He had just been in hospital and was on crutches, but he came down. He suggested we got a dry tyre and lay it on the metal run to earth the power.Jack carefully slid the plastic container and the pitch fork on to the tyre so he could step away from it. The container was about 14 inches across and as it was so windy was only about 2 inches from been blown off as he had managed under us saying tilt it that way a bit, not the other etc into the middle but the weather was against us. There were sparks and flames jumping across the yard and it was a very scary time. There has been many nights of unbroken sleep and plates of food uneaten as we try to come to terms with what has happened . We have been comforted by acts and words of kindness . Over 56k comments which came in so quickly from all over the world Anna couldnt keep up to thank people of which there was over 4 millions viewing on Facebook alone. The computer basically locked up. Flowers came in from all around the globe and cards and letters. Offers or help and suport have helped so much. It was approx 8 weeks from the accident to when the trees got took out so the dogs we had left had to be in temporary accommodation. They all adapted well and give Jack a reason to get up in the mornings. You can read on Cuckavalda Facebook page what has been happening since that fateful day but we sincerley hope our future posts will be more upbeat. Minty has been a God's send as she is Jacks shadow and trot after him. They have deep conversations you wouldnt believe !